Tubi (www.tubi.tv), Fox Corporation’s (NASDAQ: FOXA, FOX) ad-supported video-on-demand service, today announced it has entered an exclusive content deal with VICE Media Group to debut eight Tubi Original documentaries speaking to the hottest topics of today. The first documentary, THE CULT OF ELON, will debut on April 24 and follow the story of Elon Musk and Tesla’s success, examining his path to becoming one of the most influential (and controversial) businessman by creating an immensely powerful cult of personality. The second original Tubi documentary VIGILANTE, INC. will debut on May 6, investigating the volatile world of online vigilantism, as told through a recent manhunt for an arsonist in Los Angeles – fueled by the crime and neighborhood watch app, Citizen. The remaining documentaries, covering such topics as chatbot technology, mass shootings in the US, and ticket scalping, will debut throughout this year.
“VICE has a longstanding reputation of award-winning investigative storytelling and we’re excited to expand Tubi Original Documentaries with their expertise,” said Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi. “These original documentaries will raise the curtain and spark conversation on stories that tap into today’s cultural zeitgeist, including ticket scalping, chatbots and the rise of online vigilantism.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with Tubi to take a deep dive into some of today’s most timely and compelling issues with these eight brand-new documentaries,” said Morgan Hertzan, President of Global TV at VICE.
Subrata De, VICE News EVP added, “We are so looking forward to bringing our cinematic storytelling and fearless journalism to the Tubi audience.”
THE CULT OF ELON follows the story behind Elon Musk’s relentless pursuit to build Tesla and the aftermath in the years that followed. And by acquiring Twitter, the platform that propelled him and his companies to prominence, Musk has taken singular control of the modern-day public square. The ultimate influencer, Elon Musk’s story speaks to the questions at the heart of human progress: what is required to change the world and what effect that has on the individual trying to achieve the impossible. Through interviews with journalists, industry experts and Musk superfans, accompanied visually by extensive archive and social media footage, the CULT OF ELON will track the story of Tesla’s success and examine how Elon Musk became one of the most influential and controversial business leaders in history. THE CULT OF ELON is executive produced by Maral Usefi and Stacey Sommer. Jeb Banegas and Patrick Mannion serve as editors and Steve Bartus produces.
VIGILANTE INC. is a deep dive investigation into the recent rise in cases of online vigilantism and asks a number of critical questions about criminal justice, privacy and policing in the internet age. Through the incredible and dystopian story of a manhunt for an arsonist in Los Angeles, the documentary follows the crime and neighborhood watch app, Citizen, as it sprung into action and tracked down a possible suspect, blasting out his photo to the app’s one million LA followers. With Citizen issuing a $30,000 bounty for the suspect – there was just one problem – they had the wrong guy. VIGILANTE, INC. shows how quickly and easily things can spill out from the online world into the real world, sometimes with terrifying consequences. The documentary features exclusive reporting from the VICE News Tech vertical, Motherboard, including Citizen’s leaked internal Slack messages and interviews with former employees who have never appeared on camera. Directed by Paula Neudorf, who also serves as producer, VIGILANTE, INC. is executive produced by Matthew Skene and Gemma Jordan.
Beverly Chase, VP of Current Programming at VICE News, will oversee the partnership with Tubi.
Tubi’s latest partnership with VICE Media Group highlights the free streamer’s dedication to expanding its original unscripted offering and serving its viewers more of what they love. Tubi’s unscripted titles range from true crime documentaries to specials that dive deep into pop culture’s biggest moments, with plans to continue to grow this vertical in the year ahead.
VICE Content Distribution has worldwide rights to the slate of documentaries outside of the U.S.
